SPL clubs offer 'unanimous backing' to plan to revamp league structure

12 clubs have reached a consensus

Top-flight clubs today gave their “unanimous backing” to plans for a revamped 12-12-18 Scottish league structure.

Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster revealed consensus had been achieved at a meeting of the 12 clubs at Hampden today.

Scottish Football League clubs will meet to discuss the proposals, which include a merger of the two bodies, on Thursday.

Doncaster said: "We got unanimous backing of the way forward today so it now goes to Thursday and the Scottish Football League clubs will have their views.

"But today, the Scottish Premier League clubs were united in their view that this is the way forward."

The plans were originally backed by SPL clubs last year before Doncaster stepped up talks with his SFL counterparts.

But some doubt had emerged since both leagues agreed in principle to the plans earlier this month in conjunction with the Scottish Football Association, whose professional game board (PGB) has been driving reconstruction attempts.

Some clubs who were not involved in the previous meeting had requested more information amid scepticism from fans but they appear to have been satisfied today.

Doncaster said: "We provided further details that have arisen from meetings over the past weeks.

"The last time that all of our SPL clubs got together was on December 3 so in the intervening time there has been some more detail that's been discussed with the PGB and with the SFL board.

"All of that was provided today and the clubs are clear and united and unanimous in their view that this should be taken forward to the next stage."

PA